A Comprehensive Guide to Boat Transportation
Whether you're buying a new vessel, selling an old one, or simply need to relocate your boat from one place to another, locating a reliable boat transport company that fulfills all your requirements can be difficult. On Shiply, you can find & compare trustworthy boat haulers with just a few clicks, often with quotes up to 75% lower than standard prices. However, before you start, you need to determine precisely what service you require. This guide will assist you in doing just that.
The Expense of Transporting a Boat
It's difficult to provide a precise price due to the numerous factors that can influence quotes. On average, short-distance transport can cost between $150 & $300, while longer haul trips can range from $600 to $1,000. Several elements can affect the expense of your boat transportation, including:
Distance: The distance your boat needs to travel will significantly impact the price. Domestic transportation within the US is typically less expensive than international travel. For international boat transport, options include Roll-on/Roll-off (RO/RO), enclosed containers, flat racks, and submersion.
Boat Size: The dimensions of your boat can also greatly affect pricing. Standard-sized boats can be transported internationally using enclosed containers, while larger vessels cannot. The size of the boat can also impact which routes a boat transport company can take if transporting by road.
Trailer: Whether you have your own boat trailer or need the boat haulers to provide one can also affect the cost of your boat transportation.
Pickup & Delivery Locations: The ease of access to your pickup and delivery locations can impact pricing. A boat being picked up from a remote area may incur additional costs for the extra miles required.
Time of Year: Seasonality can also affect pricing. Ice, wind, and snow can all impact road conditions, which can alter the routes available for transportation.
Accurately Measuring Your Boat
To get a precise quote for transporting your boat, you need to provide the dimensions to potential boat haulers. While the manufacturer usually provides these, we recommend double-checking yourself to avoid any mishaps on the day of transport. Here's a brief overview:
Overall Length: Measured from the very end of the bow to the middle of the stern.
Overall Height: Measured from the highest (non-removable) point of the boat to the bottom of the keel.
Beam: The overall width of the boat, measured from the two widest points.
A 'standard' boat is considered to be roughly 40' long, 7'10" high, and 7'8" wide. Boats over this size may require a special permit to travel.
Locating Boat Transport Companies with Shiply
There are many factors to consider when searching for a boat transport company, & it can often seem overwhelming. This is where Shiply can help you. Once you have the make and measurements of your boat and the pickup & drop-off locations, you can simply enter this information on our site, and boat moving companies will send custom quotes directly to your inbox. The more information you provide, the more accurate these quotes will be, giving you a great place to compare your options.
Shiply's feedback & review system allows you to view ratings and feedback for any boat hauler who quotes you, ensuring you can trust that the company is dependable. You can also message anyone who quotes you within our platform to sort out details such as trailers and accessibility.
Another benefit of using Shiply is that drivers are often already making the journeys and looking for extra loads, meaning not only is using Shiply good for the environment, but it can also be up to 75% less expensive than standard prices.
Readying Your Boat for Shipping
Once you've chosen a quote you're satisfied with, you need to prepare your boat for transport. Some steps you should take include:
Documents: If your boat is being sold or traveling abroad, you may require some documents. Make sure you have these at hand if needed to avoid any late mishaps.
Cleaning: Thoroughly clean your boat before transport. This allows you to remove any personal belongings and expensive electronic equipment that you don't want to get lost during transit and gives you a good idea of the condition of your boat prior to pickup. Secure any loose items that will stay on the boat, such as life jackets, and disconnect the battery and tidy the cables.
Empty Liquids: Empty the bilge, refuse stores, and most of your fuel prior to pickup, and disconnect the fuel tanks. This will make the boat lighter for transport and prevent any potential leaks during transit.
Remove Sails: If you're transporting a sailboat, remove all winches and rigging from the mast.
Photographic Evidence: Document the condition of your vessel with time-stamped photographs before pickup. This will serve as evidence of its prior condition should any damages occur during transport.
After Delivery
Once your boat has been transported to its destination, the hard part is over, but there are still a few steps you can take to ensure everything is in order:
Check Vital Signs: Ensure the boat's engines still run and any electronic equipment left on the vessel still operates as expected.
Exterior Condition: Compare the exterior condition of the boat upon arrival to the photos taken prior to pickup. This will help you spot any damages that occurred during transit, which you can then raise with the boat transport company.
After the boat transport is complete, we ask that you leave feedback and a rating for your chosen boat hauler. This helps future Shiply users browse services with confidence and allows your hauler to understand how their level of service was received.
Boat Transport in Kearney, Nebraska
Kearney, a city in south-central Nebraska, is a popular destination for boat enthusiasts. Many people often move their boats to and from Kearney for various reasons, such as recreational activities on the nearby lakes and rivers or for storage during the off-season. Kearney's central location makes it a convenient hub for boat transport, with easy access to major highways and interstates.
If you're looking for reliable boat transport in Kearney, Nebraska, Shiply can help you find the right company for your needs. Simply enter "boat transport kearney" or "kearney boat transport" in our search bar, and you'll receive custom quotes from trusted boat haulers in the area. With Shiply, you can compare prices, read reviews, and choose the best option for your boat transportation requirements in Kearney and beyond.